Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, lifting off aboard the Mercury space capsule Friendship 7.

2003A fire during a nightclub concert in West Warwick Rhode Island kills 100 people and injures about 200 others. Pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White spark the fire igniting flammable phone, lighting the club`s walls and ceiling. The club’s owners and the band’s former tour manager later plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges.

1927They call me Mr.Tips.

Actor Sidney Poitier, whose roles include in the Heat of the Night and guess who’s coming to dinner is born in Miami.

And 1998“When I stepped on the ice, I had the feeling like, you know, I knew what the Olympics is about. I have that feeling of just like pure joy.”

American Tara Lipinski becomes the youngest gold medalist in the Winter Olympics. The 15 years old clinches that honor when she wins the ladies’ figure skating title in Nagano, Japan.

Today in History, February 20th, Carload Bradley, the Associated Press.